Joel Makower on Recycling and Industry Responsibility

Green consumerism, it seems, was one of those well-intended passing fancies, testament to Americans' never-ending quest for simple, quick, and efficient solutions to complex problems.

We caught up with him in Toronto at the Green Living Show and followed up with an short interview.

I apologize for the dreadful lighting and jumpy camera work. Too much coffee.

Joel talks about the issue of recycling and reducing the waste stream through the entire manufacturing process- the "Gross National Trash"- fifty pounds of stuff for every pound of trash that the consumers throw out.